The incumbent Republican Congressman in New York’s 13th district, Vito Fossella, is not running for re-election. Last month, the Republican Party leadership choice for the seat, Francis H. Powers, died unexpectedly. Republican leaders are still not settled on a new nominee. However, some Republican leaders in the Brooklyn part of the district favor Paul Atanasio, who is a registered Conservative Party member. Some Republican leaders in the Staten Island part of the district favor Carmine Morano, who is a registered member of the Independence Party. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for this news.

Vermont elects a governor this year. The first gubernatorial debate this year in Vermont will be on July 20, in Waitefield, and will include the Republican, Democratic, and Progressive nominees: Governor Jim Douglas, Gaye Symington, and Anthony Pollina. The debate will center on the environment, energy, food, and farming.

The Oregon initiative to limit the general election ballot to only the two candidates who received the biggest votes in the May primary will almost certainly qualify for the November ballot. The initiative submitted 119,653 signatures. The law requires 82,769 signatures.

Oregon backers of the “top-two” initiative insist on calling their proposal the “open primary” initiative, even though reference books and court decisions that define these terms say that an “open primary” is one in which each party has its own primary, but any voter is free to choose any party’s primary ballot.